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4 February 2018

REVIEW: Nerf Surgefire

Splurge on a Surge.

Nerf time again, toy fans - when grown, largely sensible people become raving lunatics. Although we're pretty well-stocked when it comes to foam-flinging weapons, you can never have too many Nerf blasters. Their latest is a pump-action affair with a rolling drum of 15 darts. Let's check out the Nerf Surgefire.

The Nerf Surgefire is a springer blaster, meaning you don't need batteries to start a battle. It is of the Elite N-Strike range - as evidenced by the blue and orange colour scheme - so the emphasis should be on range, rather than accuracy. Unlike most other N-Strike shooters, the Surgefire doesn't use dart clips, instead possessing a drum with a capacity of 15. To cock a round, you yank back on the forward grip and squeeze the trigger to fire. Nice.

The Nerf Surgefire is a medium-sized blaster that is light and easy to wield. It is also very comfortable, aided in no small way by the actual hand grip on the pump section, meaning it is something you can hold for a long time without it feeling awkward. The travel on the pump is refreshingly small, being just three inches or so, so cocking a round is quick. It isn't necessarily easy though, as it's pretty tough. So tough in fact that an almost-eight year old we gave it to had a bit of bother. Hasbro have set the blaster as suitable for 8+ years, so parents bear in mind it might be tricky for younger hands.

Once cocked and ready to shoot (there is red indicator panel that reveals if the blaster is ready) a gentle squeeze on the trigger will release one dart with a satisfying snap. Nerf claims a range of 27 metres (about 88 feet), making it one of the furthest-shooting Elite blasters. In range tests, done outside in a sheltered spot with almost no wind at all, we hit an average of about 24 metres, which is still very impressive.

What was less impressive was the spread of those shots. The Nerf Surgefire is not a sniper blaster, as the darts scattered across an area of two to three metres wide. However, up close and personal, perhaps within 10 metres, it could be very accurate and deadly - especially if you hold the trigger down and slam fire all those 15 rounds.

But... reloading this thing is a massive pain in the arse. When we first received the Nerf Surgefire we were delighted to see that the drum was separate, requiring you to insert yourself before playing. We thought, therefore, that the drum was removable, allowing you to carry extras for quick reloads. No suck luck, we're afraid. Once in there, the drum can't be removed, so you have to load all those 15 darts individually by hand. Poo.

Despite having a tactical rail on top, letting you attach the likes of a scope or light, there is no stock attachment on the rear. That is a same, as the Nerf Surgefire is the perfect size and shape for a shoulder stock, and we feel that having one would make it even easier and comfortable to wield.

However, as a mid-sized blaster, one that is light and easy to use, the Nerf Surgefire is great. We're big fans of springer blasters, as they tend to jam less than their battery-powered flywheel cousins. The pump-action loader works well, the range is good, and if you can look beyond the long reload time, this could be your next home or office-war weapon.

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The Test Pit is a place where all manner of things get tested... often to destruction. Gadgets, technology, toys, and clothing - all are fair game in the Pit. Our reviews are honest, jargon-free, and funny. Well, we try...